Furthering your education as a nurse can benefit you and your career in many ways. It can expand your skills, the quality of care that you administer, and your earning potential. Unfortunately, many nurses lead a busy lifestyle and most adults have responsibilities such as rent, bills and a family to take care of. This can make it hard to find the time and money to commit to a degree. However, there are other options that you can consider, such as online learning. To help you understand more about this way of learning, here are some of the pros and cons of online courses for nurses.

Create Your Own Schedule

Nurses have unpredictable and busy work schedules, which can make it hard to keep on top of a course when you have to study on-site. Fortunately, studying online is fully flexible as students have the privilege of setting their own class schedules. There are no fixed class times and as long as you have an internet connection, you have the choice to take a class from any location. This is one of the main reasons why working adults choose to get qualifications online. The ability to work at convenient times for you means that you can learn at your own pace and you don’t have the pressure of tight deadlines.

Can Consider More Schools

When you choose to complete a course online, there are no limitations to which school you decide to study with due to the unlimited reach of the internet. This means that you can consider more reputable learning facilities rather than choosing schools based on their location and how convenient they are. This is especially beneficial if the schools in your local area don’t have the best reputation or the course that you are interested in studying is unavailable. It is also good for people who live in rural areas or struggle with transportation. Online learning will save time and money in the long-term too. You can choose from a range of CCNE accredited nursing schools, without having to relocate or commute.

You Will Save Money

Online classes are normally cheaper than classes that require you to study on-site. You also won’t be subjected to the additional student fees that are charged for studying on campus, including student activity fees, technology fees, and athletic center fees. You will also save money on living costs that are required for student accommodation and travel. Most of the course material that you will need may be accessed online, so you will save money on textbooks. Cash that you do require for online education will be made up through your wages as you will be able to continue working around your degree.

An Eco-Friendly Decision

Increased and continuous human activity is having a negative impact on the planet. It pollutes our air and waters, destroys habitats, and reduces biodiversity. Making eco-conscious decisions and putting the environment first is essential for our survival. If you have the skills and are happy enough to enroll in an online nursing degree, then you will be making an eco-friendly decision. Due to the reduced need for paper, resources, travel, and space, people who choose to study remotely will be able to learn and develop their skills and career without adding to pollution and other practices that harm the planet.

Must Exhibit Certain Skills

You’ll need to have a certain skillset to succeed when it comes to studying online accelerated nursing programs. Being independent, persistent, motivated, and self-disciplined is essential, alongside basic technical, reading, and writing skills. Online learners must be able to manage their time well and communicate with people effectively and appropriately.  You will also need to be able to create a good study environment at home. If you feel like you meet the criteria and want to launch your second career in nursing, you can check out these online accelerated nursing programs at Elmhurst University.

Feedback Can Take Time

Feedback can boost your confidence or be used to improve your work. When you study in a classroom, you will be able to reach out to your professors in person for feedback and advice. You can also speak to your classmates for help. Unfortunately, if you choose to study online, you won’t be able to receive immediate feedback or advice. You can reach out to people via email, but the response can take time and it can be difficult to communicate everything you need to ask and understand. It may feel awkward asking other students on your course for assistance due to not meeting them in person.

Interaction Will Be Limited

Many people want to study for the qualification and the experience and they enjoy meeting people along the way. In a classroom setting, students will be able to ask questions freely and they can listen to other queries from the classmates that you may have not considered. Strong lasting friendships can be built and you will be able to lean on each other during stressful times. This can make the entire experience more enjoyable. If you study online, the interaction you have with other people in the same position as you will be very limited. This could be a major drawback if you are an extrovert.

Difficult To Remain Focused

Some people struggle to stay focused when they are not in the right environment. When you are exhausted from a shift at work or you have to take care of your household, it can be very tempting to put off studying or assignments for the night and wait for a day where you have more time. However, one of the reasons you may have decided to go with online study is due to the lack of time you had in the first place, which means you may struggle to stay on task. If you don’t manage your time or remain focused, then you could fall behind and find it difficult to catch up. Making time will get you through.

Studying an online nursing qualification won’t be for everyone. However, if you feel like you would benefit from this method of learning, then you should use it to take you to the next step in your career.